Kristinestad (Finland Swedish: [krisˈtiːneˌstɑːd], Sweden Swedish: [krɪsˈtîːnɛˌstɑːd];[7][8] Finnish: Kristiinankaupunki [ˈkristiːnɑŋˌkɑu̯puŋki]; Latin: Christinea; lit.'Christine Town') is a town in Finland, located on the west coast of the country. Kristinestad is situated in Ostrobothnia, along the Gulf of Bothnia. The population of Kristinestad is approximately 6,000, while the sub-region has a population of approximately 17,000. It is the 152nd most populous municipality in Finland.

Kristinestad
KristinestadKristiinankaupunki
Town
Kristinestads stad
Kristiinankaupungin kaupunki
Kristinestad in 2019
Kristinestad in 2019
Coat of arms of Kristinestad
Location of Kristinestad in Finland
Location of Kristinestad in Finland
Coordinates: 62°16′N 021°21′E / 62.267°N 21.350°E / 62.267; 21.350
Country Finland
RegionOstrobothnia
Sub-regionSydösterbotten
Founded1649[1]
Named forChristina of Sweden[1]
Government
 • Town managerMila Segervall
Area
 (2018-01-01)[2]
 • Total1,678.98 km2 (648.26 sq mi)
 • Land683.25 km2 (263.80 sq mi)
 • Water996.45 km2 (384.73 sq mi)
 • Rank124th largest in Finland
Population
 (2024-08-31)[3]
 • Total6,155
 • Rank152nd largest in Finland
 • Density9.01/km2 (23.3/sq mi)
Population by native language
 • Swedish52.9% (official)
 • Finnish40.5%
 • Others6.6%
Population by age
 • 0 to 1411.9%
 • 15 to 6451.4%
 • 65 or older36.7%
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Websitewww.kristinestad.fi

Kristinestad is located in the western part of Finland on the shore of the Bothnian Sea. Kristinestad covers an area of 683.25 km2 (263.80 sq mi) (excluding sea areas) of which 14.66 km2 (5.66 sq mi) is inland water.[2] The population density is 9.01/km2 (23.3/sq mi).

Kristinestad is a bilingual municipality with Finnish and Swedish as its official languages. The population consists of 41% Finnish speakers, 53% Swedish speakers, and 7% speakers of other languages.

The Finnish name "Kristiinankaupunki" is the longest municipality name currently in use in Finland. In the vernacular, locally and on some maps, the town itself is known only as "Kristiina".

History

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The town was chartered in 1649 by Per Brahe the Younger at Koppö island and is named for Queen Christina of Sweden.[1] Kristinestad is known for its old town with low wooden houses and narrow alleys. In April, 2011, Kristinestad became Finland's first Cittaslow community.[9]

Geography

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Climate

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Kristinestad has a continental subarctic climate (Dfc).

Climate data for Kristinestad
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) −8
(18)
−7.8
(18.0)
−3.7
(25.3)
1.9
(35.4)
9
(48)
14
(57)
15.7
(60.3)
13.8
(56.8)
8.8
(47.8)
4.0
(39.2)
−1.3
(29.7)
−5.6
(21.9)
3.4
(38.1)
Average precipitation days 10 8 9 8 7 8 11 11 11 11 11 11 116
Source: http://www.yr.no/place/Finland/Western_Finland/Kristinestad~650770/statistics.html

International relations

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Twin towns — Sister cities

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Kristinestad is twinned with:

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Get to known the town: Urban traditions since 1649 – Visit Kristinestad
  2. ^ a b "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Finland's preliminary population figure was 5,625,011 at the end of August 2024". Population structure. Statistics Finland. 2024-09-24. ISSN 1797-5395. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  4. ^ "Population growth biggest in nearly 70 years". Population structure. Statistics Finland. 2024-04-26. ISSN 1797-5395. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  5. ^ "Population according to age (1-year) and sex by area and the regional division of each statistical reference year, 2003–2020". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Luettelo kuntien ja seurakuntien tuloveroprosenteista vuonna 2023". Tax Administration of Finland. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Svenska ortnamn i Finland - Institutet för de inhemska språken".
  8. ^ "Kristinestad, Kristinestad - Finlandssvenska bebyggelsenamn".
  9. ^ Kristiinankaupunki on Suomen ensimmäinen ja ainut Cittaslow-kaupunki, eli virallisesti leppoisa (in Finnish)
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